Reflecting on Dirk Nowitzki’s famous All-Star alley-oop dunk, and why some think the 40-year-old should try again

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Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates after making a three-pointer during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News/TNS)

But that doesn’t mean Nowitzki’s 14th All-Star appearance can’t be as flashy as his last.

Nowitzki made headlines in the 2015 All-Star Game by laying in an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Steph Curry and then celebrating with Usain Bolt's famous arm pose as he jogged back on defense.

Watching the German big man stretch out for the lob and connect at the rim was impressive his age, NBA on TNT analysts Reggie Miller and Chris Webber said on a conference call with media members Tuesday.

So, the two All-Star Game commentators made a request for Nowitzki’s teammates and captain, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, on Sunday.

“Someone tell Giannis that he needs to have a conversation with his squad that Dirk has not had an alley oop,” since that 2015 play, Miller said. “We’ve got to see it. We’ve got to see it.”

Miller remembered watching the 2015 highlight and thinking “Noooooooo” as Curry crossed mid-court, dribbled under his leg and tossed the ball toward the rim. At the time, Curry said he hadn’t paid attention to who would receive the pass. He was already committed.

“I thought they were going to have to call the ER and 9-1-1,” Miller said.

Nowitzki, however, didn’t require any medical attention. He took off outside the paint, finished the play, and then celebrated: first with Vince Carter’s “crank it up” motion, then with the skyward-pointing pose famous from Bolt’s Olympic track and field success and finally with a slice under his neck.

“The pose after basically stated, ‘I do this all the time,’” Webber said.

It’s no guarantee Nowitzki will replicate the sequence this weekend. After all, he missed the first couple of months this season while recovering from April 2018 ankle surgery, and he’s slowed significantly since 2015.

But Nowitzki has had perhaps his best stretch of the season in recent weeks, including a 14-point performance Jan. 30 against the Knicks. He’ll be warmed up from participating in the three-point shooting contest Saturday and said recently his endurance and mobility has continued to improved.